![]() But Cleveland also has an all-around defender in Mobley that Mitchell hasn’t played with in his career, not to mention tough wing defenders like Isaac Okoro and Lamar Stevens. Yes, he had that in Utah with Rudy Gobert. It will also help that the Cavaliers have elite rim protection behind him. He won’t have that burden in Cleveland, and if he doesn’t, that should allow him to have more energy defensively. By the end of last season, Mitchell had to create almost all of Utah’s offense on every possession. ![]() One thing that will help Mitchell is Garland and Mobley taking some offensive usage pressure off him. The hope is that he’s better conditioned this year. But he’s been training this summer in Miami, dropping weight through track work, distance sprints and such. It’s the reason he didn’t play well in that series at all. One of the reasons for Mitchell’s defensive issues was that he wasn’t in great shape, so he was fatigued at key points. The Dallas Mavericks were hunting him on almost every possession by the end of their first-round series with the Jazz. TJ: Donovan has to get better and more competitive on that end. Yet, the Cavs have Allen and Mobley as their starting frontcourt, giving them two players who protected the rim and the paint really well last season and might be able to cover up some of the guards’ weaknesses. KR: One of the main concerns about Mitchell is on the defensive end of the floor, especially since he’s being paired with a fellow 6-foot-1 guard in Garland. He’s really a great get for the Cavaliers, and he’ll probably be the most marketable star the Cavs have had since LeBron James. He’s a great figure to have in the locker room, and he can be the face of your franchise in terms of media relations. Off the floor, he’s very community-oriented. ![]() I think Mitchell’s going to fit right into what Cleveland is doing on the floor. I expect his percentages to rise playing with Garland and Mobley. He’s a great pick-and-roll player, and he’s a great shooter. ![]() His ability to handle the ball allows him to get wherever he wants off the bounce. Tony Jones: Mitchell is one of the more dynamic offensive players in the league. Now that the trade is official, what kind of player are the Cavs getting in Mitchell both on and off the court? Kelsey Russo: You’ve had a front-row seat to Mitchell’s ascension during his five seasons in Utah. To get the full scope of what Cleveland is getting in Mitchell, Cavaliers writer Kelsey Russo spoke with The Athletic’s Utah Jazz writer Tony Jones. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |